Planographic press



Dec. 17, 1929.

J. 5. FLEMING 1,739,585

PLANOGRAPHIC PRESS Filed May 18. 1927 MW 5 LNV NTQR.

AQUA!! aQMMw P'XAJW W ATTORNEYS.

' rangement whereby a Patented Dec; 17, 1929 4 UNITED STATES imi azia'r oFFicE f .ronN STUART FLEMING, or TORONTO, oNTARIo, cANAnA, ASSIGNOR, BY unsmi ASSIGNMENTS, To NIAGARA FOLD, INQ', or NIAGARA FALLS, EW YORK, A 003.-

IOBATION OF NEW YORK rLANoeaArnrc mass .App1ieati'on filed May 18, 1927. Serial Ko.,192,248.

This invention relates to improvements in planographic or other printing machines, and with reference to some of the more particular features,'it relates to improvements in attachments for planographic and similar printing plates for maintaining the plates in correct operative position upon a rotary printing cylinder or like supports such as are employed in the various branches of the printing art.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arlanographic or similar printing plate may be easily and quickly secured and maintained in correct operative position upon a supporting cylinder or the like, and as easily removed therefrom or adjusted thereon.

A further object of the invention is to pro-.

vide for plates of the class mentioned an improved attachment which is specially constructed and arranged so as to occupy very little of the circumferential space of the supporting cylinder, thus leaving substantially the entire circumference of the support free and unobstructed for utilization in supporting active parts of the printing plate or plates.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the class mentioned an improved arrangement for exerting a con tinuous tensioning stress upon a planographic or other printing plate during actual operation so as to maintain the plate in correct op erative position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for plates of the class mentioned which is easy of application, of simple and inexpensive construction, and occupying verylittle space upon the supporting cylinder or other support thereclosure of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention,-and will be in part obvious in connection with said disclosure.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements,and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

' For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the subjoined detailed description of the, illustrative embodiment, and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is-a perspective view of a rotary cylinder such as is utilized in planographicprinting apparatus, and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through the cylinder of Fig. 1 showing details of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the attaching plates or plate hooks, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a releasing tool or wrench which may be utilized for releasing the plate hooks for engagement with the printing plate.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, an embodiment is there shownas applied to a printing machine of the type employing a rotary cylinder upon which a planographic or similar flexible printing plate is supported and detachably secured. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited in its application to this type of machine.

In the embodiment shown, a rotary drum or cylinder 10 is mounted by means of .a supporting shaft 11 in suitable hearings in a planographic printing machine ofany preferred, known construction, a detailed disclosure of which is unnecessary to a complete understanding of the invention and its field of application, by those skilled in the art. One or more flexi le planographic or similar printing plates 12 are supported upon the cylindrical surface of the drum 10, with the surfaces thereof prepared for printing faced outwardly so asto be brought into contact with the print paper or other material as the cylinder is rotated. It is important that the plate. be maintained in its correctly aligned initial position throughout the printing operation. As it is often desirable to change or replace the printing plates, it is important also that aplate attaching device he provided whichenables the plates to be quickly released Y of this recess may be radially inclined. The

; of the printing plate,

plate securing, or anchoring mechanism includes elements positioned .Within each slot or housing 13, and the mechanism at each slot 13 comprises two parts, one for attaching a forward or leading edge or margin on a planographic printing plate, and the other for attaching the rear, or trailin edge there- 0 it being observed that the cylinder rotates counter-clockwise or in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. I

The attachment for the leading plate edge, or margin, includes an attaching block 14 seated in a recess formed in the periphery of the cylinder and uxtaposed to the slot-like recess 13 and secured in position by machine screws 15. At its forward edge the attaching block 14 carries a plate attaching and supporting nose or edge 16 lying inwardly of the cylindrical plate-supporting surface and positioned adjacent the outer end of the recess 13. Thi nose may be rounded as shown, and is preferably elongated, extending substantially the entire length of the plate supporting surface. Lying inwardly of the supporting nose 16 is an abutment in the formof a plate 17 having apart spaced from the adjacent face of the block 14 so as to provide an open slot or seat 18. This slot is preferably of suflicient thickness to permit the marginal edge of the printing plate to be freely inserted or slid edgewise into position therein, or similarly removed therefrom, and when so inserted, to cooperate with the plate to secure it in position over the securing nose 16. The slot 18 may be ust thick enough to rather lightly engage the opposite faces and is preferably of sutiicient deptlr'to permit the plate margin to beinserted to different depths therein and .yet efi'ectually perform the plate-holding function mentioned, whereby the printing plate and the printing characters thereon may positioned or adjusted circumferentially upon the supporting cylindrical surface. The abutment plate 17 may be secured by screws 19 to the block 14. these forming a unitary block, which may be placed in position on'oi removcd from the cylinder. This unitary block and its seating recess in the cylinder may be provided with complementary, interlocking lugs 01' similar formations so as to maintain the block firmly in,

position. i

For securing or anchoring the trailing or following edge of the printing plate, one or a plurality of attaching mechanisms are provided, being housed within the slot-like two parts together recess 13, one of which is shown in elevation in Fig. 2. Only one of these attaching mechanisms is described, but it will be understood that as many of them as required may be utilized and arranged in a line or series within the recess 13. Each securing device includes a securing plate or plate hook 20 having an outwardly disposed plate enga ging part or hook 21 formed by turning over the edge of the .plate to provide a narrow channel or slot for closely, but freely receiving the edge 'of the printing plate, which is bent or hooked for this purpose. A lower flange, or lug 22 provides a seat for a compressi'on coiled spring 23, which is supported and retained at its other end by ncans of an abutment plate 24, which is preferably supported in position at one edge in a supporting seat or groove in one wall of the recess 13, and at its opposite edge in a similar groove opening at its top into the seat or recess for the block 14. In assembling the parts the plate hook 20 is placed in position within the recess with the abutment plate 24 extending through an opening 25 therein, and thus functioning as a guide and support for the plate hook 20. The block 14, 17 is then secured in position for engagement with the abutment plate 24 so as to lockthe latter with its associated parts in assembled position. Each plate hook 20 is thus supported and guided for inward and outward movement in the recess 13, being yieldingly resisted in its outward movement by the spring 23. When moved outwardly and tilted slightly to the dot-and-dash line position, Fig. 2, its lower end may engage with a notch or seat 26 formed in the recess wall, thus supporting it in extended position, while the printing plate 12 is being adjusted intoposition during attachment ordisengagement thereof. A toolor wrench 27 may be utilized with advantage for adjusting the plate hooks outwardly to extended or releasing position. The form of tool shown is a metallic plate having a suitable handle and provided with plate engaging tool is utilized, each plate hook is provided with spaced bayonet slots 29, in which the lugs 28 are adapted to be engaged for lifting the plate hook into its releasing position.

The trailing edge of each printing plate is preferably turned backwardly upon itself to provide a hooked attaching edge 30, the reversely turned part or'flange being thus positioned to enter the thin slot provided at the attaching edge 21 of the plate 20. This hooked edge may be brought into positionfor engaging the plate hook by turning the marginal part of the. plate into the slot-like recess13, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the printing plate then being bent over and resting upon the supporting edge or nose 31, which is spaced closely adjacent to the lugs 28. When such a upon itself as indicated at 32, providing a marginal attaching hook engaging inwardly over the attaching nose 16, the backwardly turned edge or flange being received within the slot or seat 18. Due to the engagement of the-hooked edges at both forward and leading edges of the printing plate, in the seats provided by the slot 18 and the channel hook 21 of plate hook 20, it will be seen that the respective hooked edges will be effectively restrained against unfolding or straightening out when the printing plate is placed under tension, or when a printing operation is being carried on.

The objects and nature of the invention having been described, and an illustrative embodiment thereof set forth in detail, the

operation of the improved device in placing a printing plate in operative position or removing it will' now be understood. The

leading hooked edge of the plate is first passed over the attaching. nose 16 and the reversely turned flange 32 is slid edgewise into the seat or slot 18. This arrangement,

with the plate turned sharply over the attaching nose 16, provides a sufficiently secure attachment to withstand the stresses and tension upon the plate incident to use Without slipping. or other displacement. The flange 32 may, as above mentioned, be inserted to a greater or less depth within the slot 18 and the plate then shaped to fit snugly around the attaching nose 16; or the edge 32 may first be inserted in the slot before bending the plate, and then the plate may be bent backwardly around the nose and laid in position upon the cylindrical surface. Thus any desired part of the plate, with the printing characters thereon, may be adjusted to lie adjacent the nose 16 or some other reference point upon the cylinder. It will be observed that the seat 18 opens into the recess 13 at such a point therein as to be readily accessible for insertion of the plate edge or flange 32. The slot is preferably inclined. as shown, so as to make it more accessible for plate insertion.

It will be observed that the printing plate 12 is ordinarily quite thin and flexible lending itselfreadily to the bending operations mentioned andconforming to the cylindrical @supporting surface when Wrapped therearound. Although the plate is ordinarily thin as mentioned, it is usually of a metal having some stiflness whereby when it is bent either for insertion in the fixed slot 18 or in the channel of the elongated hook member 12, the inherent stiffness or set of the metal will be sufficient under the arrangement described to provide the necessary resistance to disengagement without further attaching means. It is, therefore, a very simple matter to prepare the plate for attach- .ment-to thecylinder and -an equally simple matter to apply the plate in position or to remove it. I Y

When the leading edge of the rinting plate has been attached, as desc'ri ed, the

plate is Wrapped or laid upon the cylindrical 2. Each plate hook is then engaged with r the hooked edge of the printing plate either before or after said hooked edge is inserted into positionin the recess 13. When each plate hook is thus positioned, it is resiliently urged by its spring 23 to exert yielding tensi on'upon'the printing plate and to take up any slack that may at any time occur.

To remove a printing plate from its supporting surface, each plate hook 20 is moved outwardly by'means ofthe releasing tool 27 and is retained in its extended position by engagement of the lower end thereof with the seat 26, whereupon the printing plate is stripped from "the supporting surface and disengaged from the slot 18. ,v

lt'will thus be seen that this improved attachment does away entirely with all clamps, screw fastenin s, and the like, and that the only part to be moved is the plate hook, which is easily adjusted by the use of the tool 27. The securing block 14, when once placed in position, remains in fixed position upon the cylinder and the plate receving seat 18 also remains relativel fixed. The outer surface of the attachingb lock 14 may be curved' to provide an extension of the cylindrical supporting surface as shown.

printing plate to be placed in position or re- I moved with little expenditure of time or energy, but also that the leading and trailing edges of the plate and the active printing surfaces thereof may be brought into closely spaced relation with 'each other, thus ena l ing practically the entire length of the printing plate and practically the entire circumference of the cylinder tobe devoted to active use in printing, and furthermore, objectionable gaps in the printed work are entirely avoided.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

clined open slot positioned adjacent said attaching nose and extending rearwardly with reference thereto, said slot being proportioned to freely receive an edge of a printing plate for retaining it in plate attaching position, separable parts cooperating to form said slot and means for securing said separable parts to said supporting member. I

2. In a printing machine, in combination, a printing plate supporting member having a plate supporting surface, a printing plate attaching device including an elongated plate engaging attaching nose adjacent said surface and disposed at one'side thereof, a fixed seat in the form of an open outwardly in- .clined slot positioned adjacent said attaching nose and into which an edge of the printing plate is freely insertable for retaining it in position, the mouth or plate receiving'edge of said slot opening outwardly through said plate supporting surface adjacent to said nose,

separable parts cooperating to form said slot and meansv for securing said separable parts to said supporting member.

3. In a printing machine, in combination,

,a rotary plate cylinder having-a cylindrical supporting surface for one or more printing plates and having a longitudinally extending slot-like recess opening into said cylindrical surface, a securing device for the leading edge of a printing plate, including a fixed seatin the form of a'slot opening into the outer part of said slot-like recess at one side thereof and into which the" leading edge of a printing plate is freely insertable for retaining it in.

plate securing position, and a plate-securing device mounted for substantially radial movement in said recess and having a' part for releasably engaging with a printing plate so as to urge the latter inwardly about the adjacent edge of said slot-like recess.

4. In a printing device, in combination, a rotary plate cylinder having a cylindrical supporting surface for one or more printing plates, and having a longitudinally extending slot-like recess opening into said cylindrical surface and into which the plate edges are turned, a securing device mounted in said recess and releasably engaging with one printin plate edge and a securing block for another printing plate edge seated in the cylinder adjacent said recess and cooperating with said first mentioned securing device to anchor it in operative position in said recess.

5. In a printlng' machine, 1n combinatlon, a plate supporting member having an out- .wardly convexed printing plate supporting portion of the printing plate for attaching the latter in position upon said supporting surface, and a retainin plate attached to said attaching block and having a part spaced closely adjacent said attaching nose to provide a reversely disposed seat, inwardly disposed from said first mentioned surface extended for receiving and retaining a reversely turned terminal edge of said printing plate, said block and retaining plate beingdetachably connected to the plate supporting member.

6. In a printing machine, in combination, a rotary plate cylinder having a cylindrical supporting surface for one or more printing plates and having a longitudinally extending recess opening into said cylindrical surface, onelongitudinal wall of said recess being formed to provide a fixed open slot angularly supporting surface for one or more printing plates and having a longitudinally extending recess opening into said cylindrical surface, a radially movable securing plate formed to provide an elongated hook having a narrow elongated inwardly opening channel provided with an elongated receiving mouth through which the reversely bent edge of a printing plate may be inserted so as to be snugly received and restrained in. securing relation within said channel, said hook arranged to be positioned within said recess when engaging said bent edge, and resilient means cooperating with said securing plate so as to exert a yielding securing stress upon said printing p ate.

8. In a printing machine, in combination, a rotary plate cylinder having a cylindrical supporting surface for one or more printing plates and having a longitudinally extending slot likerecess opening into said cylindrical surface, a securing plate housed Within said recess adapted to releasably engage with an adjacent edge of a printing plate to secure he latter in position,- means securing plate for movement outwardly I "releasingposition, resilient means for urging saidsecuring plate into securing position, and a support holding said securing plate in its outward releasing position.

9. In a printing machine, in combination, a support having a cylindrical supporting surface for one'or more printing plates and having a longitudinally extending recess opening into said cylindrical surface, a securing plate housed' within said recess and having an attaching part engaging said printing plate within said recess, said securing plate a being'movably mounted whereby said attaching part may disposed outside of said recess.

10. In a printing machine, in combination, a support having a cylindrical supporting surface for one or more printing plates and having a longitudinally extending recess 'opening into said cylindrical surface, a secur- "der, a flexible printing plate partially surrounding said cylinder and having its ends of said cylinder.

inwardly turned or folded and entering a slot intersecting the surface of said cylinder and means adapted to'retain said plate in position on said cylinder, said means including a slit branching from said slot and in whic one end vof said plate snugly fits said slit having an elongated receiving mouth through which the edge of the printing plate ma be inserted, a flange constltuted by a fold 0 one end of said plate, and an anchor resiliently urged to position inside said slot and adapt ed to engage said flange and removably retain the same in said slot below the surface 12. In a printing machine, in combination, a'printing plate supporting member having ,a supporting surfacetfor one or more printing plates and having a narrow slot-like recess extending across and opening into said supporting surface, an elongated plate-engaging-attaching nose adjacent said supporting surface and said recess a fixed seat in the form of a flattened slotihaving an elongated plate receiving mouth positioned adjacent, and extending substjrntially parallel to said attaching nose, and through I which an edge of the printing plate is freely insertable, and a yielding securin device positioned in said slot-like recess an mounted. for outward movement adjacent said receiving mouth and cooperating with a trail- 'for'mounting said ing edge of a printing plate to exert yielding into securing stress upon said plate.

j 13. In a muting machine, in combination, a 'rotary p ate cyl nder having a cylindrical supporting surface for one or more printing plates having a longitudinally extending recess opening into said cylindrical surface, a securing plate formed to provide an elongated hook having a narrow elongated inwardly opening channel provided with an elongated receiving mouth through which the reversely bent edge of a printing plate may be inserted so as to be snugly received and retained in securing relation within said channel, and said hook being positioned within said recess when in'engaging relation with said bent edge. v

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

J. STUART FLEMING. 

